Sandal Prints March 2014 St. Clare Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order Minister’s Message Calendar By Michael T. Reidy, OFS March Sisters and Brothers, 1 Diane Strutz’s birthday As we begin our Lenten preparations (Ash Wednesday falls on March 5th 5 Ash Wednesday this year, relatively late), let’s remember this season of conversion and change. It’s not too soon to begin considering what we would like to do 9 Daylight Saving Time Begins differently this season and how best we can cultivate compassion and reconciliation. On Saturday, the council participated in a service where we 9 Fraternity Gathering offered our offenses to God by forgiving those that have trespassed against 1:15 p.m. Parish Center us. On Sunday, those that could, attended Fr. John’s Rosary. Sometimes it’s Christ the King Catholic Church 7414 SE Michael Dr., Milwaukie, OR hard to let go of people and things. Let’s give particular attention to forgiveness and compassion for our neighbor and not holding offenses, that Vespers & Refreshments: we also might receive forgiveness for our trespasses. This was also the Jim Burns, Lynne Burns, Gospel this past Sunday. Claudette Elmore Donations for Francis Center: Matthew 5:38-48: “Turn the other cheek… But I say to you, love your Cookies—already prepackaged enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of in small packs of 4-6 cookies your heavenly Father”. Through Lent we will still be celebrating the Season for Nonviolence (January 30 to April 4, 2014). It is interesting that this 14 Nominations deadline! Gospel from Matthew is Jesus teaching about non-violence. He is not encouraging abuse by allowing ourselves to be slapped, he is saying that we 19 Giovanna Zanotto—50 yrs are to absorb the violence and return violence with compassion. It was legal profession anniversary for a master to discipline a slave in Jesus’ time. Jesus certainly did not agree 22 Fraternity Community Day continued on page 3 9:00 a.m. Parish Office Bldg. St. Clare Catholic Church Nominations Deadline: March 15! 8535 SW 19th Ave., Portland OR Nominations Are Open for May Election April The deadline for nominations for this May’s election is fast approaching. Forms must be submitted to Barbara Allen by March 15. Please 13 Fraternity Gathering thoughtfully and prayerfully consider your choices and nominate those you 1:15 p.m. Parish Center Christ the King Catholic Church consider best qualified to fill our Council offices. St. Clare Fraternity will 7414 SE Michael Dr., Milwaukie, OR conduct a Chapter of Elections on May 18, 2014 to elect its new Council for the 2014-2017 term. All professed members of the Fraternity are eligible to Vespers & Refreshments: hold Council office. The nomination form is included with this newsletter Lete Davis, Laura Wagman, and will be available at the Fraternity meeting in March, as well as by Giovanna Zanotto request by contacting Barbara Allen, 360-334-1566 or [email protected]. 20 Easter Sunday ...see page 2 Rule Reflection - We Turn to God by Lynne Burns, OFS and Jim Burns, OFS In last month’s Rule Reflection we heard from Clare aspect as Franciscan Seculars is lived out according the Reidy, OFS, who reminded us that God (who is All general guidelines of the Church (GC 13.2, 3). Good) has looked at and reached out to us human beings, inviting us into His gospel life. We participate in the sacramental life of the Church, above all the Eucharist. Let us unite with Jesus in his Since we human beings have limitations, St. love of the Father in true worship with prayer and Bonaventure writes in his Itinerarium, The Soul’s contemplation in all we are and do (Art 8)2. Francis Journey into God, that we are poor in three senses. and Clare prayed this way and we can, too. We are poor because we are unable to sustain ourselves, because we are dependent on God for our final Another important guide for Franciscans is the Virgin fulfillment and because our sinfulness causes us to turn Mary, humble servant of the Lord. She was the only away from God (we deliberately choose to forego the person in Scripture to have positively responded to the goodness God extends to us). But by our nature, created call of God in her life (Art 9)3. in the image and likeness of God, we are made to seek ultimate happiness in God alone because God is the only Remembering our poverty, humility, and our prayer life, good that will satisfy our soul. let us then follow Jesus more ardently as Francis did, in being living penitential saints this season of Lent. Read St. Bonaventure tells us the only way back to God is articles 7-10 of the Rule and underline or highlight a through the Crucified. Awe of God’s goodness is particular word or phrase that speaks to you of turning humility. We are to turn to God without an agenda or to God. list of what “I must do to atone for my misdeeds.” For Francis and Clare poverty and hence humility were This month, reflect and share with a brother or sister necessary components of coming to God – a humility of an experience where you chose to turn to God. our own choosing – a humility that allows nothing to 2. How am I open to the inner promptings of the Holy come between our stance with God. This happens daily Spirit? in our lived rule (Art 7)1 by being open to the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit and acting upon them. 1Art 7 (united in vocation as brothers and sisters of This daily change means it is in flux or capable of being penance we conform our thoughts and deeds to those of malleable (being shaped – by discipline); we are able to Christ - conversion) be molded and shaped by God, the Great Potter (as in 2Art 8 (prayer and contemplation united with Jesus in Isaiah 64:7). This turning, this conversion of our hearts the sacraments of the Church especially the Eucharist.) is the essence of our rule’s penitential spirituality. Also 3Art 9 (imitate Mary, the humble servant of the Lord, in notice what Teresa Baker, OFS, points out as the small her complete self-giving and prayer) word imbedded within the word obedience in Article 4Art 10 (united to the redemptive obedience of Jesus, 104 of our rule, describing the kind of person we unite faithfully fulfill our duties even in difficulties and ourselves with and witness to even in face of difficulties persecutions.) and persecutions and who we emulate. This penitential Fraternity Community Day By Clare Reidy, OFS Please join us Saturday, March 22 at St. Clare Church 1: 45 Emmaus walk (sharing one-on-one) for a Community Day, an opportunity to grow together 2:30 Regather. Group discussion: what will you take as a community of love. We will gather for breakfast, away from today? How can we continue to grow then spend the day together as a family. The basic plan together as a “community of love”? for the day is: 3:00 Closing activity 9:00 Gathering, shared breakfast 9:30 Opening prayer and reflection Please come. Without you, 9:50 Icebreakers and group activities we aren’t a complete 10:45 Reflection, “journaling”: How I joined the SFO fraternity! 11:00 Small group sharing 11:15 Small group gospel reflection If you need 11:45 Break to prepare lunch (together) transportation, 11:55 Grace and lunch please ask a brother or 1:00 Regather, midday prayer sister, or contact Clare 1:15 Prayer and reflection: My Franciscan call and Michael. Gaze...Consider...Contemplate Minister’s Message, continued from page 1 by Sr. Loretta Schaff, osf with slavery or with physical abuse. His teaching on turning the other cheek was that if someone lawfully As we approach the season of Lent, we recall that causes you violence we are to return the violence with Secular Franciscans were called the " Brothers and compassion. It is compassion to turn the other cheek, Sisters in Penance" by Francis. So what does it mean to because if the master was to hit you again with your face be people of "penance" in the 21st Century? Sr. Margaret turned, he would have to hit you with the back of his Magee, osf, beautifully summarizes today's hand, an illegal act since it demonstrates contempt that understanding of "penance" in Franciscan life today. was not lawful. Not only does it prevent the man from (The Cord, 2007) hitting you again, it also demonstrates that what they did initially was not justice. It is this teaching of nonviolence The penitential life is that Gandhi, King, Chavez and Gyatso (the Dalai Lama) not a matter of "doing" penance are famous for. Compassion or nonviolence are the or teachings of Jesus, what the Jews call tzadik or justice, accomplishing penitential acts, and Franciscans call charity or penance. rather it is the openness to grow, I loved the title of Pope Francis’ audience last to be shaped and formed in a life Wednesday (February 19), “Be courageous, go to that reflects the dynamic movement Confession.” The Holy Father goes every two weeks. We and should at least consider our Easter duty of confession presence of Christ within and Eucharist. But penance is more than a prayer, it’s through a change of heart. turning the other cheek and loving those that spitefully use you. “For if you love those who love you, what Metanoia (Gr.